Mahé is the largest island of the Seychelles in terms of population and size. The majority of estimated 80,000 inhabitants live around the capital city of Victoria.

Mahé was a French colony until 1812 when the British took over. It was British until 1976 when the Seychelles achieved independence. The shape of the coinage is similar to the British pound.

With Marlon, I spend the day visiting the main sights around the island. We started with a drive to see an abandoned boarding school which offered some great views of the bay where Constance Ephelia has a beach.

Then we drove through the mountain on a presumably haunted road to a viewpoint.

Venn’s Town
We stopped at the ruins of a slave town that has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Lime stone foundation remains are hidden in the forest of what use to be a school for the children of liberated slaves to learn and live started in 1875 by the Missionary Society of the Anglican Church.

Apparently the Queen would come to the lookout point to watch ships coming into the harbor. At the viewpoint was a small covered lodge where souvenirs were sold. The views were fantastics.

Continuing down the mountain, we passed the President’s residency and made our way to the capital city.

Victoria

Our first stop was the Bel Air Cemetery. Established in the 18th century, the burial ground is home to several famous individuals like French privateer Jean-Francois Hodoul, a 9ft giant Charles Dorothée Savy who was killed because people feared his height and Pierre-Louis Poiret, supposedly the son of Louis XVI who fled the revolution to the Seychelles.
The cemetery is mostly unrestored and has a raw feel to it with trees and shrubs growing among the graves.

Driving into town we stopped at the Victoria Clock Tower which was modeled after Little Ben in central London. This clock is a symbol of the city and sits in the middle of a main road. The Natural History Museum is right next to it.

We then explored the center by foot.

Kenwyn House a historical French manor, a prime example of colonial architecture, that has been turned into a jewelry and collectables store. Walking through you can visit the original designs of the interiors.

Across the street is the National Cultural Centre.

We then visited the kiosks outside selling souvenirs and made our way to the main market. Here one could buy anything from fish and spices to fruit and tourist items. I found a friendly shop where I purchased my tourist shirt.

Then we drove by the office of the Tourism Authority to pick up Pamela for lunch. We went the Marie Antoinette Restaurant. Named after the Queen of France, this restaurant has been designated a National Monument in 2011 due to its original structure dating back over 100 years.

Inside they had lots of business cards and currency notes posted on the wall. We dined on the patio where there were tortoises lounging in a pen. The cuisine is typical Seychellois with a whole table of small dishes being served.

After a delicious meal, I returned to the hotel. We stopped on the way for some views over the city.

Back at Constance Ephelia, I spent the afternoon exploring the resort, going zip-lining and enjoying the beach. In the evening I dined in their Asian restaurant and had an early night in preparation for my early flight back to Madagascar.

I had an unexpectedly long transfer (over 12 hours) due to an Air Madagascar flight delay before I was on my way to Namibia, through Johannesburg.

Overall, the Seychelles really surprised me with the varied offerings of activities and the different characteristics of each island. Much more than a resort destination, a visit to the Seychelles can be an exploration of culture, nature, and history.